Modeling the spectra of matrix-isolated molecules

Modeling the properties of molecules isolated in low-temperature inert matrices is discussed in terms of cluster approaches. The analysis uses molecular dynamic and quantum chemical methods. Particular attention is paid to spectral features resulting from the matrix environment effects. Translated from Zhurnal Struktumoi Khimii, Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 256–262, March–April, 1997.     

Vibrational circular dichroism of matrix-isolated molecules

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra are reported for (+), (?) and (±) α-pinene, and (?) ß-pinine, isolated in argon matrices at ≈ 18 K. These are the first observations of VCD of matrix-isolated molecules. Spectra are limited to the CH stretching region (2800–3100 cm^?1). In all cases, the VCD spectra are substantially more structured than the corresponding room-temperature spectra, as a result of much narrower linewidths. Further, VCD magnitudes are greater due to decreased cancellation of overlapping transitions with oppositely signed VCD. The largest anisotropy ratios observed are >5 × 10^?4 and are larger than any reported for room-temperature solutions of organic molecules. This technique will permit substantially more definitive evaluations of theoretical calculations of VCD.     

Optical spectra of size-selected matrix-isolated silicon clusters

Size selected silicon clusters have been isolated in rare gas matrices and studied by optical absorption spectroscopy. The clusters were produced in a pulsed laser vaporization source, size selected with a quadrupole mass spectrometer and deposited at low energies into a cocondensed krypton matrix held at T<20 K. A comparison of the optical spectra of ten atom wide bands (Si₂₅-Si₃₅, Si₃₅-Si₄₅ and Si₄₅-Si₅₅) shows the general size evolution of the optical properties. Single cluster sizes have also been isolated and show somewhat sharper spectra than the bands. The measured spectra show similarities to spectra calculated using Mie theory and bulk optical constants. Cluster-cluster agglomeration was studied by evaporating the inert gas matrix. The results suggest that the clusters agglomerate into larger particles even under the mildest "soft landing" conditions.     

Hydrogen bonding effects on infrared and Raman spectra of drug molecules

Infrared and Raman spectra of three drug molecules, aspirin, caffeine and ibuprofen, in gas phase and in aqueous solution have been simulated using hybrid density functional theory. The long range solvent effect is modelled by the polarizable continuum model, while the short range hydrogen bonding effects are taken care of by the super-molecular approach with explicit inclusion of water molecules. The calculated spectra are found to compare well with available experimental results. The agreement obtained make grounds for proposing theoretical modeling as a tool for characterizing changes in the bonding environments of drug molecules in terms of particular variations in their IR and Raman spectra.     

Resonant Raman spectra and first molecular hyperpolarizabilities of strongly charge-transfer molecules

The effect of vibrational structure on the frequency dependence of the first molecular hyperpolarizability of two thiophene-based charge-transfer chromophores is investigated. A time domain formulation is used to express the polarizability. The new expression includes the solvent-induced inhomogeneous distribution of electronic transition frequencies as well as the effect of the motion of solvent molecules that modulates the vibrational and electronic transition frequencies of the nonlinear optical molecule on which the first molecular hyperpolarizability depends. Resonance Raman scattering and one-photon absorption spectra of the chromophores are measured. By simultaneously fitting the experimental one-photon absorption spectrum and Raman cross sections of vibrational lines derived from resonance Raman scattering to a theoretical model, important parameters needed for the calculation of the first molecular hyperpolarizability are obtained. The first molecular hyperpolarizability is calculated as a function of frequency covering both nonresonance and two-photon resonance regions. The calculated result is compared with the measured hyperpolarizability as a function of frequency of the excitation laser. The resonance Raman-based analysis is shown to account reasonably well for the dispersion of the hyperpolarizability of the two charge transfer chromophores.     

ESR spectra fo matrix-isolated bromobenzene cations formed by radiolysis

Exposure of dilute solution of bromobenzene and p-dibromobenzene in fluorotrichloromethane to ⁶⁰Co_γ-rays at 77 K gave the corresponding cations characterized by ESR spectra. Estimated spin densities on bromine of ≈ 30% and 23%, respectively, are greater than those predicted by comparison with neutral α-bromo radicals, R₂CBr (≈ 15%). Evidence for dimer cation formation in more concentrated solutions is presented.     

Raman spectra of single H2O molecules isolated in cavities of crystals

The vibrational (Raman) spectra of H₂O molecules isolated in cavities of beryl, cordierite, bikitaite, natrolite, scolecite, lawsonite, and hemimorphite have been measured in the temperature range of 4–295 K. The influence of van der Waals and hydrogen bonds on the values of frequency, intensity, and half-width of stretching and bending modes of H₂O is considered. The spectra of translational vibrations of H₂O molecules in crystal cavities are discussed. For the firsts time, the ratio between the frequencies of translation and stretching vibrations of H₂O and the dependence of frequencies of bending vibrations on the angle H-O-H in H₂O molecule are presented.     

Crystal field effects in the optical spectra of matrix-isolated palladium atoms

A Slater-Condon calculation including a crystal field perturbation has been performed for Pd atoms. The optical spectrum of Pd in Ne is reproduced very well with this calculation, assuming a repulsive crystal field of O_h symmetry.     

Calculation of intensity in the resonance Raman and two-photon absorption spectra of polyatomic molecules

A direct method for calculating the resonance Raman and two-photon absorption spectra of polyatomic molecules is described in detail The method is based on the adiabatic model and uses Herzberg-Teller’s approximation. Relations ruling out direct summation over vibrational quantum numbers of excited electronic states and representing the matrix elements of the Green function of a multidimensional oscillator as functions of vibration frequencies and Dushinsky transformation parameters are derived. The relations are convenient for constructing algorithms. Translated from Zhumal Struktumoi Khimii, Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 248–255, March–April, 1997.     

Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectra of chrysin,apigenin and luteolin

The FT-Raman and surface-enhanced Raman (SER) spectra of three flavonoids, namely chrysin, apigenin and luteolin, have been obtained. The SERS spectra were obtained on citrate reduced Ag colloids. Assignments of the experimentally obtained normal vibrational modes were aided by density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31+G* basis set. Excellent fits were obtained for the observed spectra with little or no scaling. The most intense lines in the three flavonoids SERS spectra are those in the CO stretching region and around 1250 cm^?1. The first ones are often weakened by proximity of the metal surface, whereas the latter are not affected by the Ag. On the other hand, the lines at lower wavenumbers, assigned to in-plane ring deformation, are strongly enhanced by the surface, indicating a perpendicular orientation of the flavonoids on the Ag surface. The spectra of the flavonoids are compared, and a case study of application to detect weld, a mixture of apigenin and luteolin, in a textile is presented.     

Raman,resonance Raman and infrared spectra of potassium uranyl croconate

The Raman, resonance Raman and IR spectra of potassium uranyl croconate, UO₂(H₂O)K₂(C₅O₅)₂ were obtained and interpreted. Several croconate modes are split indicating a substantial decrease in the oxocarbon symmetry, as is to be expected from a recent crystallographic investigation, revealing the coordination of the oxocarbon to be two non-equivalent UO²⁺₂ moieties in a monodentate fashion. In terms of vibrational frequency shifts it can be concluded that the UO²⁺₂ moiety behaves as an isolated oscillator.The resonance Raman results suggest that the strong band centered around 450 nm in the UV—vis spectrum should be assigned to a charge transfer transition from the oxocarbon to the uranyl ion. In fact, as resonance is approached, both uranyl and croconate modes are enhanced. It can also be inferred that the chromophore is rather delocalized into the oxocarbon ring, rather than localized in the carbonyl groups as previously observed for other croconate complexes.     

Raman spectra phthalocyanines

Raman spectra of amorphous phthalocyanine thin films have been studied. Theoretical and experimental correlations in polarization ratios are applied to vibrational assignments of symmetry species and to the problem of molecular orientation in thin solid films.     

Photochemistry and vibrational spectra of matrix-isolated 5-ethoxy-1-phenyl-1H-tetrazole

A combined matrix isolation FT-IR and theoretical DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(d,p) study of the molecular structure and photochemistry of 5-ethoxy-1-phenyl-1H-tetrazole (5EPT) was performed. A new method of synthesis of the compound is described. Calculations show three minima, very close in energy and separated by low-energy barriers (less than 4 kJ mol-1), in the ground-state potential energy profile of the molecule. The method of matrix isolation enabled the reduction of the number of populated conformational states in the experiment at low temperature due to the effect known as conformational cooling. As a result, the spectrum of the as-deposited matrix of 5EPT closely matches that of the most stable conformer predicted theoretically, pointing to the existence of only this conformer in the low-temperature matrixes. In this structure, the dihedral angle between the two rings, phenyl and tetrazole, is ca. 30 degrees, whereas the ethyl group stays nearly in the plane of the tetrazole ring and is as far as possible from the phenyl group. In situ UV irradiation (lambda > 235 nm) of the matrix-isolated 5EPT induced unimolecular decomposition, which led mainly to production of ethylcyanate and phenylazide, this later compound further reacting to yield, as final product, 1-aza-1,2,4,6-cycloheptatetraene. Anti-aromatic 3-ethoxy-1-phenyl-1H-diazirene was also observed experimentally as minor photoproduct, resulting from direct extrusion of molecular nitrogen from 5EPT. This species has not been described before and is now characterized by infrared spectroscopy for the first time.     

Photochemistry and vibrational spectra of matrix-isolated methyl 4-chloro-5-phenylisoxazole-3-carboxylate

Methyl 4-chloro-5-phenylisoxazole-3-carboxylate (MCPIC) has been synthesized, isolated in low temperature argon and xenon matrices, and studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The characterization of the low energy conformers of MCPIC was made by undertaking a systematic investigation of the DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(d,p) potential energy surface of the molecule. The theoretical calculations predicted the existence of three low energy conformers. Two of them (I and II) were observed experimentally in the cryogenic matrices. The third one (III) was found to be converted into conformer II during deposition of the matrices, a result that is in agreement with the predicted low III → II energy barrier (<0.3 kJ mol(-1)). In situ UV irradiation (λ > 235 nm) of matrix-isolated MCPIC yielded as final photoproduct the corresponding oxazole (methyl 4-chloro-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazole-2-carboxylate). Identification of the azirine and nitrile-ylide intermediates in the spectra of the irradiated matrices confirmed their mechanistic relevance in the isoxazole → oxazole photoisomerization.     

Infrared spectra and ultraviolet-tunable laser induced photochemistry of matrix-isolated phenol and phenol-d5

Monomers of phenol and its ring-perdeuterated isotopologue phenol-d(5) were isolated in argon matrices at 15 K. The infrared (IR) spectra of these species were recorded and analyzed. In situ photochemical transformations of phenol and phenol-d(5) were induced by tunable UV laser light. The photoproducts have been characterized by IR spectroscopy supported by theoretical calculations of the infrared spectra. The primary product photogenerated from phenol was shown to be the phenoxyl radical. The analysis of the progress of the observed phototransformations led to identification of 2,5-cyclohexadienone as one of the secondary photoproducts. Spectral indications of other secondary products, such as the Dewar isomer and the open-ring ketene, were also detected. Identification of the photoproducts provided a guide for the interpretation of the mechanisms of the observed photoreactions.     

The Raman spectra of bromoform

In this work the Raman spectrum of bromoform is recorded at various temperatures in the pure compound and in solution in carbon tetrachloride and the features shown by some of the bands are considered in the light of previous spectroscopic data interpretations. In particular, the concentration dependent effects exhibited by the ν₅(e) vibrational mode suggest, by comparison with similar effects previously observed in chloroform and trichloromethyl fluoride, the existence, in the pure liquid at room temperature, of important intermolecular interactions.     

Raman spectra of some terpenes

Summary Investigation of Raman spectra indicates increase in the interaction between the double bonds as we pass from sylvestrene and isosylvestrene to sylveterpinolene and indicates that the character of the interaction in the last compound is more complex than in 1,3-butadiene and other similar conjugated systems.     

Resonance Raman spectra of n-methylthioacetamide

Rigorous resonance, as well as preresonance Raman spectra of N-methylthioacetamide and its N-deuterated compound are reported. The observed selectivity in the resonance intensity enhancement is discussed in relation to the potential energy distributions obtained by normal coordinate treatment. The structural change concerning the CN and CS bond lengths is suggested to accompany the π^* ← π electronic excitation.